As Wisconsin cyclosporiasis cases rise, local farm sees increased demand for lettuce

Racine Zoo mourns loss of 5-year-old African penguin Nelson

From The Journal Times.com:

Milana Doné

Nelson, an African penguin at the Racine Zoo, passed away June 3 following a terminal illness. 

Courtesy of Racine Zoo

RACINE — Nelson, a 5-year-old African penguin who was born at The Racine Zoo on March 6, 2021, and could be recognized by his orange band and hunched back, has died.

Two days after Nelson hatched, he was joined by his twin brother, Ozzy, according to a news release from the zoo.

The zoo described them as a sweet, chaotic pair that sought love, attention and trouble. The penguins continued to recognize each other as brothers even as they grew into adulthood.

When Nelson was a chick, he developed a spinal infection that impacted the growth of his spine and resulted in a hunched posture, the zoo said. Although medical intervention was able to cure his infection, the shape of Nelson’s spine was permanent.

Nelson was able to do everything a normal penguin would, and the zoo prioritized a happy, healthy and comfortable life through special veterinary care, such as acupuncture treatments.

According to the zoo, Nelson formed more of a bonded relationship with hiskeepers than any of the other penguins. He clung to their shoes and responded to scratches with his own “preening” of the keepers’ fingers.

The zoo said animal care staff recently noticed changes in Nelson’s behavior and appetite that indicated something was wrong.

After exams determined a terminal illness, staff considered quality of life and declining condition. Nelson was euthanized June 3 surrounded by the animal care team, who the zoo said will remember and miss him.

African penguins live along the coast of South Africa and are the only species of penguins that live on the continent.

Their typical lifespan is 15-20 years in the wild and 20-30 years or longer in human care.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/article_a6fdf43b-88e6-4bfe-b2cb-929eec2ba897.html

Recent stories by Racine Journal Times reporter Milana Doné

Cops Gone Great: Two Wisconsin officers to be honored at National Police Week in D.C.

First Fridays kick off in downtown Racine on May 1

From The Journal Times.com:

RACINE -- The Downtown Racine Corporation's First Fridays kick off on May 1 with a Creative Crawl, a citywide celebration of art, creativity and community.

There will be hands-on activities, artist demonstrations, local author readings, pop-up exhibits and more from 4-9 p.m. throughout Downtown Racine.

Racine Art Museum, 441 Main St., will feature:

• A live set by DJ Unknown (5-8 p.m.).
• Interactive art stations for kids & adults (4-8 p.m.).
• Art Treasure Hunt with prizes.
• Meet the Artist: Amanda Browder (6:30 p.m. talk).
• Live Urban Sketching with Patti Fallon.
• Outdoor public art/postcard painting station.
• Artist demos throughout downtown featuring RAM artists.

Live art and hands-on experiences will include these venues:

• Revelyn Soul: Watch artist Erin Krembs create felted beads & animal sculptures.
• The New Café: Create beaded wind chimes with Pop-Up Adventures.
• Stitched: Fiber art demo with Sherrye Smith + explore Racine’s newest fiber arts hub.
• Art Metals Studio: Father/daughter duo showcasing painting/metalwork collaboration.

The Hotel Verdant, 500 Main St., is offering:

• A rare behind-the-scenes look at a private guest floor.
• Creative cocktail specials at Marguerite.
• A paper floral art demonstration with Laura Gillespie.

Among other highlights will be:

• Busia’s XOXO, 210 3rd St.: Hands-on cookie icing station.
• Photographic Design: Opening reception for the "Windows of the World" exhibit.
• Racine Art Guild, 419 6th St., Spring Juried Show.
• COP House: Student-made jewelry from repurposed materials.
• Over Our Head Players: Interactive puppet “Joke Booth.”
• Public art installations and demos throughout downtown.

From: https://journaltimes.com/life-entertainment/local/events/article_80cb2a1b-76a1-4ec5-b26b-f6896c632bc7.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Here’s what experts expect shoppers to spend this holiday season

'They're bullying us': Mount Pleasant business owner says village landlocked and blighted property after they refused to sell

From TMJ4:

By: Ben Jordan

Posted at 5:19 PM, Jul 23, 2021

 

and last updated 6:24 PM, Jul 23, 2021

RACINE COUNTY — A Mount Pleasant business owner says he’s suing the village after they landlocked his property and forced him to close after negotiations to sell the land fell apart.

Village officials deemed the property ‘blighted’ land that sits in a Foxconn construction zone after the owner refused to sell a majority of his land.

Jack and Colleen Erickson have owned Erickson Trucks-N-Parts, which sits next to I-94, for more than two decades. Just a few years ago, they applied for permits to build brand-new facilities, but now they can’t even get on their property as barricades block the entrance.

“They're bullying us,” Jack said. “There's no question about it, they're bullying us."

TMJ4

Jack Erickson

Jack said they agreed to sell just under 2 acres of land to Mount Pleasant for $1.6 million, so a frontage road could be expanded for the Foxconn project.

The Ericksons say negotiations fell apart for the rest of their property, including where their business sits, because they felt the offer was too low.

“They landlocked us, so then they had this plan on this public nuisance and this blight. I mean it was a planned deal,” Jack said.

TMJ4

After months of the Ericksons being unable to get onto their property, Mount Pleasant officials voted two weeks ago to deem the Ericksons’ remaining land as ‘blighted.' Under Wisconsin law, that means the property is dilapidated or unsafe.

"We've been in business for 22 years out there, and never had any kind of a ticket or warning on appearance or anything,” Jack said.

The village said it moved forward with blighting the land because of “the current state of the property and lack of action by Erickson to remedy the condition of its property."

The village said it pursued all reasonable efforts to purchase the property for infrastructure improvements, including an offer to buy a similar sized lot for the Ericksons on the same road, along with $900,000 for moving expenses.

Colleen said the land they were offered would need several million dollars to pay for utilities and asphalt to be installed. Jack and Colleen believe it would take more than a year of construction before they could reopen their business.

TMJ4

“I don't think it's right that they want to pay us pennies on the dollar or move us somewhere that isn't where we can pick up and basically resume business, because that would not have happened with what they offered,” she said.

The Ericksons say they’re in the process of launching a lawsuit against the village for allegedly using illegal methods to take the land they want to keep.

"They want us to roll over. We're not going to. I don't have a lot of money, but I have some and we're going to fight them because I feel what they're doing to us is wrong,” Jack said.

The center of Foxconn construction is just a mile east of the Erickson's property. The village said Foxconn and Fisker are still in conversations with the state’s economic development corporation before determining whether to build electric vehicles in Mount Pleasant in the future.

From: https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/theyre-bullying-us-mount-pleasant-business-owner-says-village-landlocked-and-blighted-property-after-they-refused-to-sell

Benefit Post

man charged with photographing under woman’s skirt

Bump. legal stranger requested a repost of this blog.

 
Originally published on October 10, 2013 at 11:26 AM:

Rochester man charged with photographing under woman’s skirt at Pick ’n Save

RACINE — A Rochester man, facing a felony charge for allegedly taking a cellphone photo underneath a woman’s skirt while she was grocery shopping, has been granted another week to hire a lawyer.

Matthew J. Stegall, 26, of the 700 block of Fox Knoll Drive, is charged with a single count of capturing an image of nudity without consent after he reportedly was spotted by a store employee as he took pictures underneath the woman’s dress as she shopped Aug. 19 at the Waterford Pick ’n Save

Click here for JT artical Rochester man charged with photographing

It’s called voyeurism; I do not believe it is illegal to take pictures or videos of someone as long as they are outside in public; everyone is fair game.  In private it is a different story.  If you were dancing nude inside your home and I could see you from outside and filmed you…that’s illegal because you are supposedly in the safety of your own home and can do what you wish.

"Shop Local on Small Business Saturday"

From Caledonia Patch:

"Big name national retailers take the spotlight on Black Friday as their deep price cuts pull in shoppers in droves.

"What about those mom-and-pop businesses all over the Racine-area and beyond that are the backbone of America’s economy? Just when do they get their day?

"That’s basically the question that was asked back in 2010 when the concept of Small Business Saturday was born."

Read more:  http://caledonia.patch.com/articles/shop-local-on-small-business-saturday-6b95a60c


I irregularly patronize Top Dog Hot Dogs and Kewpee's, both locally owned and operated.

"Pattern or Practice"

"The story of how the small town of Racine waged war on African-American and Hispanic bar owners to drive them out of the changing town."



"In the past six years in the City of Racine 13 minority owned bars or nightclubs and 2 white owned bars with minority patrons have been closed while in contrast no white establishments have been affected."

Read more: http://www.indiegogo.com/patternorpractice

Party on, lying John!

Why Not, I Forgot to Bring This to Your Attention

From The Journal Times.com:
  
"Local couple makes Swedish pancakes for a cause"

http://www.journaltimes.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/local-couple-makes-swedish-pancakes-for-a-cause/article_c8d63eb6-29e5-11e2-b207-001a4bcf887a.html

Another Journal Times Editorial That I Agree With

From The Journal Times.com:

"Journal Times editorial: City's never-ending recycling fee breaks promise"

http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/journal-times-editorial-city-s-never-ending-recycling-fee-breaks/article_64b238d8-2b96-11e2-b16f-0019bb2963f4.html

That's twice now that hell has frozen over:
http://www.jtirregulars.com/2012/10/journal-times-editorial-takes-city-hall.html

Sorry, gotta get this off my chest

Two things.  First, wtf with the city contracts with its workers?   http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/three-unions-file-lawsuit-against-city/article_e46f5492-d1d8-11e1-bdc4-001a4bcf887a.html

I remember many people saying that we should wait until we knew what budget cuts were coming from the state before we sign any contracts.  Dickert, Tom , and most of the City Council ignored reality and signed the contracts anyway.  Now they intend to just break the contracts.  They do it knowing that the unions will sue and add to the city's already outrageous legal tab. 

Worst. Mayor. Ever.

Second, why are prosecutors plea bargaining with a monster who admitted killing a two-year-old by body slamming her a dozen times? http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/plea-agreement-apparently-being-discussed-in-toddler-s-death/article_f5676f22-d2d3-11e1-93aa-001a4bcf887a.html

I've said it many times: children are disposable in Racine.  The city's criminal "justice" system shows a deep disdain for children.  Baby killers walk our streets again after only a couple of years in prison.

I know why we are plea bargaining with this monster.  Money.  That's the reason behind most plea bargaining.  It's cheaper than a trial.  Find out the cost of a murder trial in Racine.  Subtract from that the cost of plea bargaining.  The difference is the price of a child's life in Racine.

Where those flowers at?

Hey dudes. Question for ya...where is the bst place IN TOWN to go for flowers and garden stuff?? I am looking for affordability :)

Thanks. Have a swell day!!